TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning will host Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Thursday, October 17 when they take on the Minnesota Wild at the Tampa Bay Times Forum at 7:30 p.m. The league-wide initiative is entering its 15th season of recognizing those affected by cancer.

NHL and Lightning players will once again take their support to the ice. In addition to wearing the Hockey Fights Cancer decals on the back of their helmets, Lightning players will have the opportunity this week to use lavender tape on game sticks during Thursday’s morning skate, warm-up and game. Lavender, which represents awareness for all forms of cancer, returns as the designated color for this year’s initiative and following Thursday, and each Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night game, sticks from select players will be available for auction on Auctions.NHL.com. Lightning players will also recognize those in their lives that have been affected by cancer on LightningVision and TampaBayLightning.com.

The Hockey Fights Cancer tie, the signature item in the line of commemorative merchandise for this worthy cause, will once again be worn by Lightning coaches and broadcasters during Thursday’s game. The lavender tie, manufactured by Vineyard Vines, is custom woven, 100% silk with a hockey stick pattern throughout. All NHL coaches, broadcasters and team personnel will wear the commemorative tie during their NHL Club’s Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night games in October. Head coach Jon Cooper’s tie, as well as a number of other items, will be auctioned off via the Lightning’s social media channels. Additional staff members will wear lavender ribbons.

During the game, the Lightning will recognize the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman, as well as the Boy and Girl, of the Year, with pre-game Zamboni rides, as well as rides for other honorees throughout the night. Other special children will participate in the team’s pre-game “High Five Tunnel” and welcome the team to the ice for warm-ups. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be presented with a $5,000 check from the NHL during the second intermission. The check will be accepted by the University of Tampa hockey team in memory of former captain Curtis McIntyre.

The Times Forum will also be lavender-clad for the game, including arena dasher boards at ice level and additional signage. Lightning personalities will don lavender, including the Lightning Girls, ThunderBug, Ice Crew and the Bolts Brigade. A number of educational and non-profit groups will also be on Ford Thunder Alley pre-game.